Do you have a pain in your butt? No, we’re not talking about the holiday pains of mothers-in-law or ex-spouses who can’t agree on when you’ll have the kids. We mean a literal pain in your lower back and buttocks. This can mean that you have a pinched or aggravated sciatic nerve, and it can result in acute or chronic pain that can lead to more issues than those in-laws you might be trying to avoid.
Defining Sciatica
Technically, any pain that originates from the sciatic nerve can be classified as sciatica, although that’s not a true medical diagnosis. It’s more a catchall term for any pain in the buttocks and lower back.
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body and runs from above the tailbone to the back of the foot. Pain from the nerve can be felt in the buttocks, lower back, thigh, calf, and into the feet (although it’s usually on just one side, not both). Pain tends to worsen when sitting and can result in a dull ache, tingling, weakness, or numbness. Some people also report sharp pains that make it difficult to stand up or walk. These pains can be sporadic or chronic.
Causes of sciatica can include lumbar spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back; degenerative disc disease; spondylolisthesis, which occurs when one spinal vertebra slips over another one; herniated or slipped disc; or pregnancy.
Essentially, any pain in the sciatic region should be investigated. Although it rarely results in permanent nerve damage, if the underlying issue is a more serious one, it is something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
How Acupuncture Helps Sciatica
Did you know that the US FDA has approved acupuncture as a treatment for back pain? The National Institutes of Health has also recognized that acupuncture is an effective treatment for back pain, including sciatica.
The principle behind acupuncture is that it stimulates the body’s circulation and healing mechanisms. During this process, blood flow resumes where it might have been previously stagnant. Acupuncture also views the body as a whole, rather than a sum of its parts, so the goal is to improve efficiency and flow throughout the entire system. Since sciatica can be attributed to so many different base issues, acupuncture is the perfect treatment plan.
The best approach to treating sciatica with acupuncture is to include a few different components of Chinese medicine, such as cupping, Chinese medical massage (Tui Na), electric stimulation, and stretching. The last part is an essential part of ongoing treatment, and it must be done at home … by you. You will work with your acupuncturist to choose stretching exercises that release the tension in your lower back, buttocks, hips, and legs; then acupuncture re-teaches your muscles to remain tension free. That’s the key to keeping the pain and tightness from returning in the future.
[tweet_box]If you suffer from a pain in your butt or lower back, acupuncture can provide the relief you’ve been seeking.[/tweet_box]Contact the professionals at Health and Harmony Acupuncture at 602-955-5444 to schedule your appointment and begin to find your Treatment of Sciatica.
